//------------------------------// // We Need To Go! // Story: Clockwork Wings // by Aphotic //------------------------------// It's been a few days after the magical night Corkscrew and I had shared. Although the time then was awkward and opened my eyes. I still feel quite cheerful that Corkscrew cares for me, but he has to much on his mind to follow through. The feelings he kept bottle within him prevent any movement toward his new ones for me. I was currently in a steady canter back to the hangar with a bitty bag full of wild flowers. As I cantered a few squirrels joyfully hopped with me, I looked around to inspect my surroundings and saw that birds were flying by. They dove gracefully by me in a display of skill. Their display had distracted me enough to were I didn't notice Corkscrew in front of me. I crashed into him, rebounding off him and onto my flank. He glared at me worriedly for he knew something terrible had happened. I could also see a spark snap behind the glimmer in his eyes. I was scared of him for once but fought past my anxiety and began to speak. "Oh, sorry Corkscrew I didn't see you there," I said with a smile as I my wings aloud me to fleetly rise onto all of my hooves. "It's fine, but, we have to go!" He said quickly. "Go where? And why?" I asked in a confused tone. "Far away, anywhere just not here!" He began to yell as I sank back onto my hind legs. "C'mon, lets go!" He yelled grabbing my frontward leg and jerking me forward. I didn't understand what was going on until I saw it glooming over us. It was a steam ship and all the outward doors were open, signifying that the troops had been dropped. I looked in both fear and disgust at the massive vessel. Corkscrew had the same look adorning his face but with a certain hate pertaining to it. He shook is head, sighing a swear softly under his breath before accelerating to a gallop. The trees had a water color affect to to them as we ran. We swiftly ran into the hangar bay but were stopped by an unexpected sight. A few steam punks had beat us to it, there was only two but they were bulky, untamed colts. Steam punks, however, are usually medium sized jet pack troopers of the URCF. They used a compressed form of steam energy to propel themselves through their packs conveniently placed on their backs. One of them stopped what he was doing looked over at us, "Stop! You are ordered by the URC.....!" He was cut off by Corkscrew, "Yeah, yeah, formal bologna and junk," He said mockingly. The other steam punk looked over his shoulder and jumped to attention. In one, un-graceful movement he dropped Corkscrews clipboard and placed himself next to his comrade. The troops looked tensely at Corkscrew as they attentively moved forward. They ducked their heads, showing the were ready to charge. Corkscrew looked over at me, "When they charge just jump, alright?" he stated. "O-ok," I said weakly as Corkscrew moved back into a crouched, battle ready position. I shimmied myself behind him, trying to remain relatively unseen. I placed my hooves on his flank waiting for him to move. The sound of gears tearing away at each other rang from our wings as they waited patiently for any movement. I couldn't see anything but in almost an instant boisterous grunts sounded from the soldiers. A loud pattern of solid hoof beats rhythmically flared shortly after. Then, in that same moment, Corkscrew shot into the air pulling me forcefully up with him. My hooves we dug deep into his coat but the duress was to much. I let go, hoping that my wings would catch me. My spirits promptly rose as my wings shot out and frivolously flapped themselves, sending me soaring up to Corkscrew. We were flying high into the sky, almost breaking the cloud barrier into URCF territory. I looked back and saw that the URCF steam punks were jetting their way up to us. I felt I should warn Corkscrew but I was to slow. He must have heard me squeak because he hastily swayed his body to see me. A relaxed look showed on his face at the sight of my safety. But that relaxed look quickly faded as he saw the trooper. I saw his eyes widen as the larger of the troopers slammed into him. The hit was so callous that blood spat from Corkscrews mouth and sent him gliding into a softened cloud. "Corkscrew! Wa....Ahh!" I gasped as the other trooper crashed into my rib cage. I was never hit like this before, the pain jolted throughout my body causing it to spasm. My eyes rolled to the back of my head and all I could hear was ringing and the sound of grinding gears. I wanted to scream but I couldn‘t breath in my sudden downfall. My eyes began to water in my abrupt affliction, blurring my sight and speckling the sky in ached droplets. But, I managed to see Corkscrew instantly spiral past me with the trooper from before under him. His hooves were crammed deep into the troopers pack as he strenuously ripped out the mane water hoses of the pack. Without water the pack couldn't work and without a pack the pony could only decline. I watched in horror at Corkscrews harsh vengeance on the troops, but I understood all to well. I closed my eyes as I again heard the call of the birds buoyantly chirping for help. I smiled at the sound for I knew that even if I did die here I would be remembered. Whether it was by my friends, Corkscrew, or the animals of the forest I wouldn’t be forgotten. As I plummeted to the earth one thought did remain in my head, Corkscrew, and then my falling stopped. Well, not stop but slowed to almost a crawling speed. Hooves were ground into my back and the sound of a pony forcefully groaning filled my ears. I immediately opened my eyes and saw that Corkscrew had caught me. His face was covered in beads of sweat as he decelerated my fall. "You alright, Fluttershy?" he finished with a harsh grunt. I couldn't answer him with how bewildered I was, Corkscrew had yet again had risked his life again just to save me. I stared deeply at him before gripping onto his shoulder and digging my head into his chest. Allowing him to understand that I was safe, that I was ok. He continued to hold me as we creped closer to the ground. I kept my head dug into his chest so I couldn't see anything but I felt Corkscrews head move frantically. I heard Corkscrew sigh softly before speaking, "hey, um so yeah, I'm going to drop you now," He said awkwardly. I removed my head, "W-what!?" I squeaked. He just looked down at me and smiled. I grasped his shoulder with a rougher grip than before and wrapped my other leg around him. "No, no, no please don‘t!" I pleaded. "Sorry Fluttershy," He answered with withheld angst. I felt his grip loosen around me along with mine around him. My body was still in an abate state and I couldn't hold on. Finally his grip was gone and my own had failed me, I fell down and watched ripcord the whole time. I screamed in my decent, knowing that he wouldn't save me this time. Waiting to hit the cool, compacted ground, but instead of ground I hit hay. There had been a pile of soft, cushioned hay beneath us. I began to smile and laugh a little at myself for never trusting Corkscrew. I looked up to wave but instead of seeing him there I saw him rocket into the ground to the left of me. There was a Steam Punk mounted on top of Corkscrew viciously slamming his face. I watched in fear but then I felt a fire light in my heart. Remembering the feeling I had back when I saved my friends from a dragon. I let that same feeling of security come over me as I bounded out of the hay pile and charged the trooper. I saw him look up at me in surprise as I yelled. That distraction was enough though for Corkscrew to land a solid punch on his mask. The trooper stumbled back holding is face as I rammed my head deep into his gullet. He slid back hunched over, putting three of his legs bent on the ground while the other held his side. I looked at him and put my hoof on his mask, "You, mister, need to pack up and leave me and my friend alone. Just because your strong doesn't mean your tough now go, get out of here!" I said in a stern and controlled manner. The trooper just nodded his head and jetted back into the sky. I watched angrily to ensure he wouldn't turn back around. Then I felt a hoof on my shoulder, my anger fled from me and my worry over took me. I turned round to see Corkscrews face had been beaten and bloodied. His body seemed like it had a dragon clamping down on his sides, his coat and mane we mangled with blood and dirt. I couldn't help but tear up at this sight. I wanted to blame myself for this instance and I knew he could feel my discomfort. He pulled me into him, "Hey, it's ok, it's all over now!" He said with forced enthusiasm. "H-how did this happen?" I asked trying to understand how they found us. "It's my fault Fluttershy, they found us because of what I do," He said softly. "What do you do?" I asked in a soft whimper. "I can't tell you, but I can show you!" He yelped as my hug began to tighten around him.